Monday, September 23, 2002
Rose, softball game close Cinergy tonight
Fans won't get autograph without a program
By Dustin Dow ddow@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The only way for fans to get autographs from past Reds greats, including Pete Rose and Johnny Bench, at Cinergy Field today will be to buy a $5 game program, the promoter of the event said.
Marty Garafalo, director of Denver-based Dream Events, said fans cannot bring memorabilia to the softball game between former Reds and major-league standouts, the final public event at the 32-year-old stadium.
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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
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• 3:30-5 p.m.: Autograph session (no charge for autographs, but you must have a $5 game program).
• 5-6 p.m.: Local-celebrity three-inning softball game.
• 6-6:30 p.m.: Home run derby (Dave Parker, Gary Carter, Ryne Sandberg, Anthony Munoz, Pete Rose Jr., George Foster).
• 6:30-7:30 p.m.: Player introductions.
• 7:30 p.m.: Game starts (seven innings).
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“The only memorabilia getting signed is the commemorative program,” Garafalo said. “We don't want people bringing in bats or anything like that. We're already giving them bobbleheads.”
Every person at the sold-out event will receive a Pete Rose bobblehead doll.
Garafalo said the cost of the game program is a donation to the Johnny Bench Scholarship fund.
Players will sign the programs from 3:30-5 p.m.
Dream Events has put together other stadium-closing games, Garafalo said, such as the one two years ago when Denver's Mile High Stadium closed.
“We had a flag football game between John Elway and Joe Montana for the goodbye to Mile High. That one sold out, too,” Garafalo said. “We're kind of finding our niche market with these games. People want to see them.”
Tonight's softball game, however, is the largest event Dream Events has put on because of the large rosters and field construction, Garafalo said.
“This thing has just been overwhelming,” he said. “It's been a lot of work.
“We're actually setting up a softball field inside of the current field. It will have a 260-foot fence and be a regulation softball field.”
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Rose, softball game close Cinergy tonight
